A Day in the Life of a Personal Trainer in Exeter (Featuring: An Eye Twitch and Other Gym Traditions)

A Day in the Life of a Personal Trainer

If you think being a personal trainer is all roaring “ONE MORE REP!” and looking permanently thrilled to be alive… allow me to gently ruin that fantasy.

Very quick disclaimer, I am not a Snap Fitness employee. I primarily train my clients here and I’m part of the PT team. This light hearted look at my day are my own thoughts and life experiences. 

A day at the gym is mostly:

• coaching women, beginners, and busy professionals
• lots of chatting (about form, the weather, and life in general)

Spoiler alert: putting weights away will get mentioned a lot…

Here’s what a typical day looks like — light, honest, and only slightly fuelled by caffeine and chaos.

06:00: The Alarm Goes Off 

The first thing I do is wake up and… pretend I’m not awake. I then briefly question everything and check if my husband is still alive. (Close thing on occasion with his snoring…)

Then comes the sacred ritual:

• Instagram check
• protein hit 
• checking the day’s sessions like it’s the weather forecast
  (“Ah yes, a strong chance of squats with heavy breathing.”)

Most people assume personal trainers live in the gym because we love it so much. That’s only partly true. The other part is: we’re there because clients book early morning personal training sessions before work, and we are nothing if not loyal.

07:30: The Early Crew (Busy Professionals, Big Energy, Tiny Time Slots)

The morning clients are usually busy professionals who want results without turning the gym into a second home.

So sessions are focused:

• strength training
• confidence building
• proper technique
• and workouts that actually fit a real schedule

There’s a lot of:

• “You’re stronger than you think.”
• “Breathe.”
• “Slow it down.”
• and the classic: “engage your core.”

At this point, “engage your core” should be printed on my forehead.

08:00: The First Social Bits (AKA: The Gym’s Community Vibe)

One of the genuinely nicest parts of working at Snap Fitness Exeter is the little chats with members between sessions.

It’s not always deep and meaningful. It’s usually:

• “It’s freezing today, isn’t it?”
• “The wind nearly took my car door off.”
• “How was your weekend?”
• “How’s work?”
• “How’s life?”

And sprinkled in there, the important stuff:

• quick tips on form
• adjusting a machine
• “try bringing your shoulders down a touch”
• “brace your core like someone’s about to poke you in the side”

It’s a proper community feel. And honestly, it’s underrated – especially for beginners who are nervous. A friendly chat makes the gym feel less intimidating and more like a place you belong.

09:30: Putting Away Weights (A.K.A. The Eye Twitch Section)

And now, the part nobody puts on Instagram.

Putting away weights.

If you go to a gym and think the dumbbells magically return to their correct places… I have news. That magic is called a personal trainer slowly developing an eye twitch.

Things that trigger it instantly:

• dumbbells returned in the wrong order (8kg where the 20kg lives?? bold choice)
• plates left on bars like a “surprise gift”
• one lonely 2.5kg plate abandoned three miles away from the rack
• someone using five different bits of equipment at once like they’re staging a fitness obstacle course

Do I put them away? Yes.
Do I smile while doing it? Also yes.
Do I do it while whispering “why… why… why…”? Absolutely.

But to be fair: most people are great — and I’d rather have a busy gym than an empty one.

10:30: Beginners Session (Confidence > Chaos)

A lot of my clients are women and beginners, and this is where coaching matters most.

Because beginners don’t need to be destroyed. They need:

• reassurance
• technique
• a plan that makes sense
• and the confidence to walk into the gym and think, “Yeah, I can do this.”

This is when the “wins” happen:

• the first time someone deadlifts with proper form
• their first push-up
• the moment they realise the weights area isn’t a scary place reserved for Gym Gods™

These sessions are my favourite because confidence changes everything. It’s not just fitness — it’s how you carry yourself outside the gym too.

12:00: Lunch (Or “Eat Something Quickly and Hope It Counts”)

Personal trainer lunch is sometimes a proper meal… and sometimes it’s:

• a banana
• a protein bar
• the remains of a coffee
• and whatever snack is closest without being illegal

Very glamorous career.

14:00: Member Chats + Form Fixes (The Casual Coaching Moments)

This is where some of the best coaching happens: not in a formal session, but in those quick “Hey, can I check something?” moments.

Someone asks about:

• squat depth
• back position in a deadlift
• why their shoulders ache on pressing
• whether they should be “feeling it” in a certain muscle

And I’ll give a quick adjustment, a simple cue, and send them on their way feeling better and safer.

It’s also where you end up chatting about life:

• holidays
• kids
• work stress
• “January motivation” struggles
• and the eternal British topic: the weather (because apparently we can’t stop)

That part is genuinely nice. It’s one of the reasons the gym feels like more than just a place to sweat — it’s a place people come to reset.

17:30: Evening Sessions (The “I Nearly Cancelled” Heroes)

Evening clients are often tired, stressed, and running on fumes — but they still show up.

That’s the win.

These sessions are about getting the job done without frying someone’s nervous system:

• strength work
• smart progression
• leaving with more energy than they came in with

And yes, there’s still a bit of:
“Engage your core.”
(You thought you’d escaped it. You haven’t.)

20:00: Wrap Up (And One Last Look at the Dumbbells…)

End of day:

• quick tidy
• progress notes
• and one last glance at the weights area

If everything is racked properly, I feel peace.

If it isn’t… well… hello again, eye twitch.

Why 1-2-1 Personal Training at Snap Fitness Exeter Works

For women, beginners, and busy professionals, 1-2-1 personal training works because it gives you:

• a plan that fits your schedule
• coaching so you feel confident (and safe)
• accountability to stay consistent
• progress you can actually see

No nonsense. No intimidation. Just training that works in real life.

Want 1-2-1 Personal Training at Snap Fitness Exeter?

If you’re a beginner, short on time, or you want support building confidence in the gym, 1-2-1 coaching makes it simple.

You show up. I coach. You get stronger.
And I’ll only mention the core thing… a normal amount.

Let’s Talk

Want a clear, structured plan that avoids all these mistakes? My coaching programmes give you personalised training, nutrition advice, and support so you can finally see results. Book a free consultation today. Or follow me on Instagram for more hints and tips! @MarliesPT